Bigger on the Inside

The pale mists have descended from the mountains once more, cloaking everything in a grey veil. The library has taken on a very moody look, the dark places are even darker, and the omnipresent feeling of silence is only aided along by the silence the mists usually bring.

The librarians go about their business, occasionally exchanging words with their regular patrons, and those who're more irregular.

The cart creaks ever so slightly, caused usually by the slight unevenness in the floorboards tilting the cart slightly. Several books are stacked neatly atop the cart, with one gigantic tome 'How to say I'm starving in ALL the languages' set as the centerpiece.

Simony pushes the cart to a table in one of the more open areas, where the light can't be blocked by the large stacks. The books are carefully set upon the table, though the big one causes her a lot of struggle."

There are rules against carrying books out of the library. There are also rules against slinging spells in the library. There are, however, absolutely no rules about using a spell you cast -before- you entered the library. So Telamon is checking the top shelves of a bookshelf for a specific book, muttering to himself in annoyance.

The fact he's not bothering with the ladder, and there's a good two feet of empty air under his feet, is somebody else's problem.

Finally, he finds what he's looking for, carefully sliding the tome out and checking the frontispiece. Gliding along, he peers over at the tables, catching sight of a familiar copper-hued robe, and he grins... landing and walking over. "Find everything you're looking for, Simony?"

One of the folks amongst the library is a young teen girl just barely five foot high. She has several books under an arm as she browses the lower shelves. Pulling free different kinds of story books, a book on alchemy, something about successful gobber experiments.

She blinks as one book gets free as she sees the bottom of shoes, her peering through the stacks as she watches the exchange with interest.

"Oh! Hello Tel." The Goblin lowers her voice, offering the Half-Sil a grin. "Ah, I found the language books I was looking for, mostly. I am unable to find, 'Patience. Yeah, how long will that take?'. It's been checked out for ages, and the librarian's believe the loaner may have passed on." Simony frowns lightly. "No worries, there are probably other copies here in the city."

She peers curiously at the book Telamon's located, attempting to spy the front cover or the spine. "What have you found there?", she wonders.

Telamon hehs. "Probably why they don't allow the books to be removed from the library any more. Well, there was that one time when the books started coming to life, attacking people and trying to escape. I think Lady Octagna still has nightmares about that one."

He helpfully turns the book so Simony can actually read it: 'A World In Your Pocket: Theory and Practical Study of Extradimensional Spaces'. "I've been casting magnificent mansion for a while, but I've been curious about -how- that spell was designed and crafted. So I've been researching its history, off and on, and caught this lead."

The girl scratches her head with the spine of a book as she tries to place whoever Telamon was talking to, but couldn't pin it down. Looking back and forth between one's elbows and the others knees as they converse.

The mention of books attacking makes her suddenly look up.

>Thunk.<

".... ow..." she groans, rubbing her head as several books on the shelf she thudded against lazily fall over one another. "... uh... wow... these... shelves sure to stick out..., huh?"

"Yeah, I was informed that such lengthy overdue times were a part of why the library no longer loans books out." Simony leans in closer, pushing her pince-nez further up her nose, and squints at the tome in Telamon's hand. "Oh, that is definitely interesting. Is the author also the creator of one of the spells?"

The Gobbo's ears perk up, and she peers over her shoulder. In a few quick steps, she's peering up at Cynthia, and eyeing the toppled books. "Are you okay?", she asks of the teenager.

A shrug. "No idea. But I've been studying the spell itself and it's complex -- so I decided to go hunting. I doubt this person's the creator, this looks more like a dissertation, but still, the more information the better--"

At the thump, and the books toppling, he turns in surprise. Following Simony, his eyebrows raise. "... Cynthia Retzner. We meet again, I see." He grins slightly. "Research for a paper, or personal matter?"

The teen straightens up as she's now face to face to Simony, her sitting ono the ground. "U-Uh... yeah, I'm okay," she murmurs, rubbing at a forming knot on her skull. Slate eyes glance up, past Simony. Blinks. Then looks off to the shelves. "Oh, um, hi. Again. Um..."

Cynthia dropped her books. A book on basic alchemy. Alexandrian history. A storybook titled 'Blar-ly Made It!', and a hodgepodge journal that is merely titled 'Successful(?) Goblin Experiments'. "... a bit of both...?" she answers sheepishly. "I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation about...conjuring bridges...?" So she /was/ eavesdropping.

Simony glances over her shoulder at Telamon, a grin spreading across her face. "Ah, you've met Miss Retzner, Telamon? And are you considering your own version of such a spell then?" She giggles lightly and shakes her head. The Gobbo reaches out a hand to Cynthia. "Come have a sit down over here, and let me look you over. Wouldn't do your father any favours, nor you, to send you on your way with a concussion. That book looks pretty hefty."

Meanwhile, Telamon collects Cynthia's books, nodding to Simony. "A couple times. Nothing bad though." He looks thoughtful. "Yes and no. I'm wondering if there's a way to make such a spell -permanent-. The ultimate vacation home -- or refuge. But I'm still working out the particulars."

The half-sil gestures for Cynthia to follow Simony, and sets her books down on the table when she sits down. "Bridging again? Well, I see you listened to what I talked about before. But this curiosity makes me wonder if you're interested in magic beyond the 'flashy stuff'."

It takes Cynthia a moment to register it, but a beat later, she takes the hand. "Simony, right, sorry. Um, hah, I don't even know the half of what you two were talking about," she rubs her neck, pulling herself to her feet. "Yeah, you can take a look at me."

The teen follows after, taking a seat. "Thank you," a nod towards her books. "That... sounds complicated," she comments about permeant vacation homes, getting herself sorted.

A brief inspection yields: she just bumped her head, nothing bad. Nothing nearly as bad as the things her father gets into. She looks up at Telamon, wringing her hands. "I uh, um, maybe?" she flounders. "I just pay attention in class is all and take pretty good notes, I think. The flashy stuff looks pretty fun though.."

Simony hmms and hrrrms at the lump, and begins to rummage in the pouch on her belt. "That's because you're essentially jumping into the middle of the conversation. Telamon has a wonderful magical spell which creates a mansion. The thing is, as magic is wont to do, it literally is bigger on the inside." Her fingertips come away wet, and they are cool to the touch when she rubs them onto the lump on Cynthia's head. The pain lessens immediately, becoming something dull, hiding in the background. The swelling lessens as well. "You're to tell your father you go bonked on the head by a book, but that I looked you over. It's just a bump, and he can use a wet, cold cloth to ease any swelling or pain, alright?" She gestures to Telamon, and then upwards. "With powerful enough magic, one is able to create pocket worlds, essentially. Spaces that exist outside of our own world. Some people use magic to create these pocket places, and then make homes inside them. Others use such magic to create bags of holding and handy haversacks, so that a simple bag can contain far more than one would expect."

"A bit more complicated than that, Simony," Telamon adds. "The magnificent mansion seems to incorporate multiple spells into it, which is why I was studying it. It got me thinking about what goes into casting it."

His gaze slides back to Cynthia. "Flash is all well and good, but... as Simony says, you can do more with magic besides set things on fire. Carve a little hideaway for yourself, or making bags that are bigger on the inside. Or build a marvelous house -- my sister-by-bond Mourner Verna did that. Her house is built from magically conjured and carved stone -- it's really a neat bit of architecture." He smiles at Cynthia, tapping the book on basic alchemy. "This is probably a lot more useful, day to day, than you might expect."

Cynthia suppresses the urge to scratch her head as Simony inspects her minor wound. "That sounds really useful, though I dunno how that even works-- ow- ooh." She sighs in relief. "Thank you! Okay. I'll keep that in mind. He's busy at his friend's forge, but I'll tell him."

She tilts her head to the side at the explanation of the mansion, seemingly getting it at face value, but the why behind it is lost on her. "Al... right." Her head tilts up slightly towards Telamon. Brows raising, eyes widening slightly. "... wait, the... stone house on Mountain Road? That's your sister's?"

She looks down at the tapped book. "It probably is useful, I know a tiny bit. Poultices and stuff like that that mom showed me a long time ago."

Simony grins at Telamon. "Yes, it is oversimplified, but it is a decent way to start getting a grip on what we're talking about, isn't it?" The Gobbo pats Cynthia's shoulder. "Just a bump, so you're good. But it's ways best to be honest with your father."

She moves to settle into a chair with a little sigh. Giggling lightly, Simony nods. "It's a pretty nice house, isn't it? As for alchemy, it has its uses Lots of practical uses in it, if you read from the proper sources and not some hack who speaks about turning lead into gold, or creating love potions. Stay away from those charlatans."

Telamon tilts his head. "True enough, I suppose." He takes a seat as well. "But yes. Verna and Auranar are my sisters-by-bond, adopted into our family. I honestly am impressed with what she did -- I admit I'm a little jealous." His eyes twinkle cheerfully. "See what I mean? Flash isn't everything."

He nods, his expression tightening a little at Simony's comment about charlatans. "I'm a fair hand at alchemy, though I've turned it towards a somewhat narrow field of study. But yes, alchemical remedies are a brisk business in Alexandria." At the mention of poultices, Tel hms. "If you're looking for more in that vein, you might consult the Althean Almanac. That's a good source for nonmagical remedies and advice on wellness."

Cynthia blinks at the albino gobbo. "I'm always honest with him," she answers with a straight face. Gaze slooowly sliding to the side right afterwards. "But yeah, um, magic houses. Pretty cool. I pass by it a lot when I go to the Vardaman temple every now and then. I know Mourner Verna, didn't know that was her house." She chuckles quietly. "I'd be a teeny bit jealous too. It has a nice view. But I like my house already."

She looks to Simony, a light grin crossing her face. "I live right next to Goblintown, trust me, I know all about those scams." She looks to Telamon, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Cynthia rifles around in her pockets and pulls out a small notepad, clicking a pen as she scribbles down the name of the book. "Good to know, thank you Mister Telamon sir. I only know a little bit. Perhaps probably better to know just in case..."

Simony's expression drops a little at the look from Telamon. "You know I don't mean you, right? I mean, I didn't know you were handy at alchemy. And I very much doubt you would fleece honest people out of their coin... you... don't do that, right, Telamon? I wasn't trying to hurt you."

Her eyes widen, and she grunts, holding her chest. "Aah, right in the heart..." The Gobbo giggles lightly. "Yes, Goblintown is certainly a source of all the latest and greatest scams."

Telamon's eyes go wide. "Oh. No, no, Simony, I didn't think you were referring to me! I've run across that crap with scams myself, that's why I kind of got sour-faced there." He laughs a little. "Remember, we discussed me concocting magical wines and liquors? That's what I put my alchemical skills to, not... well, scams." He reaches over and gives Simony's hand a squeeze. "No harm, no foul."

"In any case, the Temple of Althea has copies of the Almanac -- not a surprise, really -- that they sell at a pretty low markup to help fund the temple. But if you need to consult a copy, it's free." His eyes glint. "Which is, in my opinion, a wise way to go about it."

Cynthia looks between the two adults as Telamon apologizes for something or another, relaxing slightly as it was just a misunderstanding. "Magic wine..?" she muses, tapping her chin. An idea crosses her visage. "... Mister Telamon sir, have you made anything that changes your hair color when you drink it...?" she innocently asks.

She giggles at the little cleric's antics. "I also live half the time in there, so, I'm privy to the scams. My best friend Lomi lives there."

Swinging her feet now, she nods at Telamon. "Huh. Okay! I'll go there. Maybe they can give me pointers or something. Might be able to ask dad if he can get it for me."

The Goblin seems mollified but Telamon's explanation. "Oh.. okay. You are ... grumpy that others sully the name of alchemy with petty crimes." Her smile returns as she nods. Looking between the two, she nods again. "Magic wine. Oooh, that sounds like a really neat idea for a vintage, Telamon, if you don't already do something that does that." She giggles lightly at Telamon. "She could peruse the library's copy. At, least I assume the library has a copy, since that would lend the Temple a bit of renown I think."

She raises an eyebrow at Cynthia, "Lomi? A Goblin?"

"Well, it's petty to you or me, not so petty to someone who's been sold a bottle of bovine byproducts." Telamon shakes his head. "And yes, Simony, I brew magic wine infusions. I get pretty good reviews for Night's Kiss, for example." Stars sparkle in his eyes as he continues, "The biggest issue has been translating that text. At least it keeps me out of trouble."

At Cynthia's question, he arches an eyebrow. "Hmmm. No, usually you get a better result with a hair rinse or dye. Although you should try to follow the directions, and be extra careful of anything you buy from a gnome. I once managed to dye my hair a -very- fetching shade of blue -- I looked like I was wearing a blueberry -- and Aryia managed to turn her hair a bright shade of green."

He pauses. "On second thought, just don't, Cynthia. I have a feeling I know where this is going."

Cynthia shakes her head. "I'll go to the temple, it's okay. If I'm confused by something there, I know people there can help me out," she smiles, kicking her feet more off the chair. She shakes her head. "Oh, no, she's a Nar. Greyish, yellow nose, brown hair. She's my best friend!" she enthuses.

She looks up at Telamon, giggling at bovine byproducts. "Oh I know about the gnome dyes, I have some pink in my room when I'm feeling it," she grins. But she purses her lips, looking off up to the ceiling. "... c'mon... it'll be funny...!" she giggles, carefully stacking her books up as she stands. "Um, I'm gonna go read a little bit. It was nice running into you two."

"I know, Tel. Remember, I promised to sample one of them for you, one where you're not a hundred percent sure what will happen?" The Gobbo grins. "I think you'd have a big market for it, though, Tel. Women would love something that could change their hair colour for a while, but that it changes back after a certain period of time. No mess, no fuss, just sip a glass of wine, think of a colour or something, bam, hair colour of their dreams for the ball that evening."

"Oh, an Arvek Nar. Probably one of the few races brave enough to live in Goblintown full time." The Gobbo giggles then, looking between Cynthia and Telamon. She offers a wave. "Be well Cynthia. And don't mess with your father's hair colour without asking. That'd be mean."